Rotary ptjmp



H. F. SMHH.

ROTARY PUMP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG/25. 19".

1,3 10, 584. Patented July 22, 1919 a SHEETS-SHEET r.

H. F. SMITH.

ROTARY PUMP.

armcmou FILED Aua.2s. 1917.

Patented July 22, 1919.

- 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A If/i/ [ZZZ-711125555. Juarez-172711 .Mw Am UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY E. SMITH, OF LEXINGTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE SMITH GAS ENGINEERING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ROTARY PUMP.

Application filed August 25, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Lexington, Richland county, Ohio,

5 have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Pumps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a form of rotary pump, and more particularly to a rotary pump in which use is made of a liquid abutment which maintains its effective form under the action of centrifugal force.

In many pumps heretofore used there is metal to metal contact between the working parts, tending to greatly lessen efiiciency. Especially is this true where the fluid being pumped is of a viscous nature or is of such character that it hardens if left standing. In such cases some of this fluid invariably works in between the contacting metal parts, and causes binding or sticking thereof. This tendency is very marked where gas containing tarry matter, such as producer gas which contains large quantities of tar fog suspended therein, is being pumped. With the prevalent types of pumps it is found that this tar fo collects between the working parts, and a ter cooling, binds them so tightly that the parts must be steamed in order to soften the tar sufiiciently for operation to be resumed. In my invention I avoid this difiiculty entirely by completely eliminating all metal to metal contact of the working parts of the pump, and by dispensing with all valves. By this arrangement I avoid all metal to metal friction between the working parts of the pump, and am thus enabled to attain a higher speed which permits of a decrease in size of the various parts without any loss in the quantity of work done.

A type of pump embodying my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in

which:

Figure 1 is a view at right angles to the axis of (the rotor with parts removed to show the interior of the cylindrical casing;

Fig. 2 is a view of the device at right angles to Fig. 1 with parts thereof broken away to more clearly disclose the structure;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the rotor along the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Specification of Letters Patent.

.than the other.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Serial No. 188,233.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the rotor;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a modified form of rotor;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the modified form of rotor along the line 77 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line 88 of Fig. 7

In the drawing in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the various views, 1 is a cylindrical casing having an inlet 2 and an outlet 3. Both the inlet and the outlet open directly into the easing 1 without any controlling valves whatsoever, the flow of fluid into and from said casing being unregulated except by the speed of the pump rotor.

Mounted in the pump casing is a rotor element 4 carried bya shaft 5, which shaft is supported b suitable bearings, one of which is illustrate conventionally at 6. This shaft is so mounted that the axis thereof is out of line with the axis of the cylindrical cas ing 1, the rotor itself being cylindrical in general outline so that its rotation will be eccentric to the said casing. The rotor 4 consists of a hub portion 7, having circular flanges 8 upon each end thereof. Extending between the flanges 8 and connected to the hub portion 7, is a fin or piston 9, the free end of which is flush with the periphery of the flanges. This fin 9 is in reality a piston, since in operation it is the element which impels the gas through the casing, the gas being under greater pressure on one side Extending through the rotor is an axial passage 10 adapted to receive the shaft 5. Extending part way through the hub is a longitudinal inlet passage 11, its free end opening throu h one end of the rotor, as shown clearly in ig. 5. This inlet passage has its free 0 on end at all times connected to that end 0 the easing into which the inlet 2 opens, so that it is always in free communication with such inlet. In the wall of hub 7, adjacent the base .of piston 9, is a slot 12 connecting the space between the flanges 8 with the inlet passage 11. Extending part wayl through the hub 7 is a second passage 13, aving the free end thereof opening through that end of the rotor element opposite to the end through which the passage 11 opens. This passage has its free open end at all times connected to that end of the casing from which the outlet 3 leads, so that it is always in communication with such outlet. Attention is called to the fact that so long as rotation of the rotor is in one direction, the outlet passage 11 always serves as the inlet, while the passage 13 always serves as the outlet. It is thus seen that valves controlling these passages are unnecessary, and that metal to metal contact of the rotor and casing, may be entirely dispensed with. This passage 13 which I will hereinafter call the outlet passage, has a slot 14 adjacent the base of piston 9, and upon the opposite side thereof from the slot 12, which connects the passage 13 with the space between the flanges 8 in a manner similar to that described above and clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. The rotor 4, as shown in the drawings, is so mounted in the casing that no part of it approaches contact with any art of the casing. That is, all metal to meta contact between the rotor and the casing is avoided. This is very advantageous; for, as stated above, all binding or sticking of the working parts of the pump is thus entirely avoided. Also, contacting metal parts will very quickl Wear, and allow leakage therebetween whic of course, decreases efiiciency, an at the same time increases the tendency to bind or stick. Such can not take place in my device.

In the casing 1 is a quantity of liquid 15. The rotor 4: is so mounted in the casing 1 that the hub 7 the flanges 8, and the piston 9 thereof, are always partly immersed in the li uid15 when the pump is in operation. Rotation of the rotor 4 will bring about a consequent rotation of the liquid 15. This rotation of the li uid 15 gives rise to a contrifu' a1 'force which will cause it to assume the s tape of a cylinder, as clearly shown in Fi s. 1' and 2, which cylinder is concentric wi 'h the casing 1, and'consequent'ly eccentric to the rotor 4. The liquid 15 thus assumes the form of a smooth cylinder capable of readil yielding to allow the piston, to pass in an out thereof, and to compensate for irregularities in the casing and rotor, but sufficiently rigid to act as an abutment against which the gas is compressedfor forcing it through t e pump. It can be clearl seen that at t e lower part ofthe cylin er, the flanges 8 and piston QWill dip more deeply into the liquid than at the upper part thereof. The quantity of liquid constituting this cylinder isso proportioned that when in lowest position, the piston 9 is completely imfmersedQWhiie in uppermost position, only the free edges of the flanges 8 and piston 9are submerged Leading into the casing is an outlet pipe I6 for supplyingthe fluid 15 thereto, while leading from the casing is a pipe 17, having a trap 18 therein for drawln'g ofl' any surplus fluid introduced through 16. In this way the quantity of fluid 15 is kept constant.

Assumingthat the direction of rotation of the rotor 4 is clock-wise, it is evident that upon upward moven'ient of the piston 9, the space between hub 7, the inner wall of the l quid ring 15, the flanges 8, and the lower side of the piston 9, will be continuously increasing, while the corresponding space upon the upward side of the piston 9 will be decreasing. Upon upward movement, therefore, there will be a tendency for a vacuum to form below the piston 9. At such time the slot 12 is connected with this increasing space, thereby connecting it through the passage 11 with the inlet 2. Any tendency toward the forming of a vacuum in this increased space will, therefore, result in an inflow of gas from the inlet 2 through the passage 11 and slot 12. Likewise such rotatlon of the rotor, which, as stated above,

results in a continuous decreasing of the space existent above the piston 9, will neces sarily result in forcing out through the slot 14 and passage way 13 into the outlet 3 any gas contamc in such continuously decreaslng space. Since the gas contained in the decreasing space is the same gas as drawn into the increasing space on the preceding revolution of the rotor, rotation of the rotor will result in a drawing in of gas from the inlet pipe 2, and an ensuing forcing out of that same gas into the outlet pipe 3. It is evident from the above, that the quantity of gas umped'by my apparatus is entirely depen. ent, fora given size of pump, upon the speed of rotation. of the element 4. And as set forth above I am able to attain easily and safely, a very high speed of rotation, because of metal to metal contact of the working parts, along with friction resulting from such contact, being eliminated. It is thus seen that the liquid cylinder 15 acts as an abutment which cooperates with the rotor-piston to force gas through the passages 11 and 13. As stated above hub 7 of the rotor is always partly submerged as are also the flanges '8 and piston ,9. Rotation of the rotor merely causes a greater or less submerg'ing of the flanges and piston with a consequent increase or decrease in the space inclosed therebetween.

In Figs. 678 I have shown a modified form'of rotor, in which I have three flanges 19 similar to the flange 8, and tWo pistons 20%21 similar to the piston '9, these pistons being located upon diametrically opposite sides of the rotor element. In place of two passages 11 and 13, there are four passages '222'324', 25. Two of these passages 22 23 open adjacent the piston 20; the other two 24.-25 open adjacent the piston 21. This farm of rotor may be substituted for the single-phase rotor shown in Fig. 2. The mode of operation is the same as that of the rotor described above, the only cliffelence, being that with a rotor such as shown in Fig. 6, a more continuous flow of liquid from the pump is secured, inasmuch as two pulsations will be secured to each complete ievolution of the rotor element in place of one pulsation secured upon a (ma plete revolution of the rotor element shown in Fig. 2. In actual practice I have found a multi-phase rotor element, such as shown in Fig. 6, preferable to the single-phase element shown in Fig. 2. The mode ofopera tion with the multi-p'hase element is sufliciently clear in view of the method of operation described above to make unnecessary any further description thereof.

From the above description it is quite ob vious that I have invented an apparatus which is very simple in structure and mode of operation, an apparatus which is more effective for the purposes for which designed than any pump heretofore known, and one that is practically fool proof. While I have shown what I consider at present, the best adaptation of my invention, I by no means limit myself to thedisclosure of my invention set forth above, inasmuch as there may be numerous changes in mechanical details of construction without in any way changing thescope of my invention. And for a true definition of the scope of my invention, reference should be had to the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to Secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pump, the combination of a casing having valveless inlet and outlet ports therein, said casing being adapted to contain a quantity of liquid which during operation of the pump is caused to assume the form of a revolving liquid cylinder; a rotor in said casing and free from contact therewith; and passages in said rotor connecting the inlet an outlet ports; said rotor during operation of the pump cooperating with the revolving liquid cylinder to force fluid through the passages.

2. A pump comprising a cylindrical casing, adapted to contain a quantity of liquid which during operation of the pump is caused to assume the form of a revolving liquid cylinder; inlet and outlet ports in the casing at all times freely connected to the interior thereof; a rotor in saidcasing and entirely free from contact therewith; and passages in said rotor connected respectively to the inlet and outlet ends of the casing; said rotor during operation of the pump cooperating with the liquid cylinder to force fluid through the rotor passages from the inlet to the outlet end of the casin In a pump, the combination of a cylindrical casing having inlet and outlet ports at all times freely connected to the interior thereof, said ports being connected respectively to opposite ends or said casing, the casing being adapted to contain a quantity of liquid which during operation of the pump is caused to assume the form of a revolving liquid cylinder; an eccentric rotor in the casinghaving its opposite ends respectively adjacent the said inlet and outlet ports; and passages in the rotor opening through the opposite ends thereof; the liquid cylinder during operation of the pump being concentric with said casing and adapted to cooperate with the rotor to cause flow of fluid through the passages in said rotor from the inlet'to the outletend of the casing.

4. A pump comprising a casing having inlet and outlet portsleading therelnto, said casing being adapted to contain a quantity of liquid Which during operation of the pum is caused to assume the form of a revo ving liquid cylinder; a rotor in said casing free from contact therewith, a pcripheral groove extendin part way around said rotor, a passage in t e rotor connected at all times to the inlet end of the casing, and a second passage in the rotor connected at all times to the outlet end of the casing, said passages being at no time connected to each other during'operation of the pump but each connected to said peripheral groove;

the rotor upon operation of the pum cooperating with the liquid cylinder to force fluid from the inlet end of the casin through the first passage, the periphera roove, and the second passage into the outet end of the casing.

5. A pump comprising a cylindrical casing having its ends freely connected respectively to inlet and outlet passages, said casing being adapted to contain a quantity of liquid which during operation of the ump is caused to assume the form of a revo ving liquid cylinder; a rotor mounted eccentrically within the casing and entirely out of contact therewith; flanges at the opposite ends of the rotor, said flanges during operation of the rotor being at all times immersed in the liquid cylinder to form a closed chamher; a passage in the rotor connected at all times to the inlet, a second passage in the rotor connected at all times to the outlet, said passages being connected to the said closed chamber but not to each other; and means on the rotor cooperating, during rotation of the rotor, with the liquid cylinder for causing fluid to pass through the passages and closed chamber from the inlet to the outlet passage of the casing.

6. A pump comprising a cylindrical casing, said casing being adapted to contain a quantity of liquid; an inlet port at all time reely connected to the interior of the casin at one end thereof, and an outlet port at all times freely connected to the interior of the casing at the other end thereof a rotor in said casing eccentric thereto and entirely free from contact therewith, flanges on the ends of said rotor, inlet and outlet'passages in said rotor extending part way therethrough and at all times connected res ectively to the inlet and the outlet ends 0 the casin g, a fin on the rotor between the flanges, slots in said rotor adjacent the fin and u n opposite sides thereof, said' slots lea 111g into the inlet and outlet assages of the rotor respectively; the liquid withinjthe ing being caused during operation 021C. 1: e pump to form a rotating liquid cylinder concentric with the casing and eccentric to the rotor, said liquid'cylinder during; operation of the pump at all times covering some part of the rotor flanges and fin and cooperating therewith to cause the space between the flanges and fin to alternately increase and decrease to force fluid from the inlet end of the casing through the rotor to the outlet end thereo 7. A pump of the character described, comprising a casing, inlet and outlet orts at all times in free communication wit the interior of the casing; a rotor in said casing, passages in said rotor adapted for free communication, one with the inlet port only and the other with the outlet port only, and a vane or fin carried by said rotor and adapted to at all times separate the inlet and outlet ports from communication with each other.

8. A pump of the character described, comprising a casing, inlet and outlet ports at all times in free communication with the interiorof the casing; a rotor in said casing, passages in said rotor adapted to communicate one with the inlet ports and the other with the outlet pontof the casing, and a vane or fin I carried by said rotor and adapted to at all times separate the inlet and outlet ports fromdirect communication with each other.

9. A pump of the character described, comprising a casing, inlet and outlet ports at all times in free communication with opposite ends-of the interior of the casing; a rotor in said casing and free from contact therewith, a passage in said rotor and adapt ed to at all times freely communicate with the inlet endof thecasing; a second assage through said rotor adapted to at al times freely communicate with the outlet end of the casing,'and a veneer fin carried by said rotor and adapted to at all times separate the two said passages from communication with each other. I

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY F. SMITH.

copies of this ntent may be obtained tor five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner 01 Patents, Waihlngton, D. 04 

